Tin
Atomic number 50 means that every Tin nucleus contains 50 protons. That proton count is the element's identity: change it and you no longer have Tin.
Start with the nucleus
Atomic number 50 means that every Tin nucleus contains 50 protons. That proton count is the element's identity: change it and you no longer have Tin.
Tin (Sn) is chemical element 50. It belongs to the post-transition metals, and its reference state at room temperature is a solid. Those basic facts are a useful starting point for its chemistry and applications.
In practice, it turns up most often in solder, coatings and bronze.
See the atom
Conceptual visual: electron shells are a learning aid, not a literal picture of quantum orbitals.
What this number means
Atomic number 50 means that every Tin nucleus contains 50 protons. That proton count is the element's identity: change it and you no longer have Tin.